Diversity brings harmony in Indonesia: religious figures

Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Thousands of religious congregation representatives in Indonesia gathered at Nusantara Hall of Parliamentary Building in Jakarta on Sunday to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012 with the theme Diversity Creates Harmony in Indonesia.

The religious congregation figures that led the delegations in the event were Chairman of Muhammadiyah (one of largest Muslim organizations), Din Syamsuddin, Representative of Catholic Religion, Andreas Sewangu, Representative of Hindu Religion I Nyoman Udayana, Representative of Buddhism, Philip Wijaya, Representative of Confucian religion, Wawan Wiratma, and representative of Christians.

“On this occasion, we pledge that there is no religion in Indonesia that refuses diversity. Do not always look for what is different, but take our similarities to live in harmony and peace in Indonesia,” said Syamsuddin.

The religious figures and the representatives of religions in Indonesia expressed their commitment to keep harmony in the society, nation and state under the Pancasila ideology.

Din Syamsuddin also said that the decision to choose the Parliamentary Building as a place of the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012 was aimed to bring closer relationship between the interfaith society and people`s representatives.

Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Taufik Kiemas gave a positive respond to that statement. He said MPR will support every program that promotes interfaith harmony in Indonesia.

“Year by year, MPR will support events that renew pledges of commitments of interfaith harmony in Indonesia,” said Kiemas.

In the meantime, the Representative of Hindu Religion, I Nyoman Udayana said every human being is the same in front of God. “Only good and bad make us different. Therefore, people should live in harmony in their diversity,” he said.

“The interfaith congregation should respect each other to promote harmony,” he further said.

According to Udayana, the state has a responsibility to keep interfaith harmony in Indonesia, “The state had guaranteed freedom of religion, but practically, there is still unfairness between the majority and minority,” he said.

World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event to be observed in the first week of February starting in 2011.